Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

[mcgyver210]

We have moved our boat to marina & now have trailer in yard which has made me think about storage. Should I just cover tires & winch or whole trailer?

I was thinking I could just buy a cheap Boat cover the length of the trailer if whole trailer needs to be covered.

I figure I am doing as I always do & over thinking this?

I will not be using trailer very much or at all while at marina but I would like to store it without letting it just rot away.

Thanks

 

[bassman284]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

We have moved our boat to marina & now have trailer in yard which has made me think about storage. Should I just cover tires & winch or whole trailer?

I was thinking I could just buy a cheap Boat cover the length of the trailer if whole trailer needs to be covered.

I figure I am doing as I always do & over thinking this?

I will not be using trailer very much or at all while at marina but I would like to store it without letting it just rot away.

Thanks

I would think tires and winch ought to do it.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

First... That was not a dumb question.

Second... How nice do you want me to be, there are limits, you know.

Alright, all kidding aside. Regardless of whether you've got your trailer on dirt, grass, or concrete, put a piece of plywood, or other flat piece of lumber, such as wide 1X's, or 2X's under each tire. This will prevent dry-rot. The cheap boat cover is not a bad idea, but make sure it's well ventilated, or it may do more harm than good. If you can put the trailer out of the way somewhere, where it won't be an eye-sore, that's a bonus.

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

First... That was not a dumb question.

Second... How nice do you want me to be, there are limits, you know.

Alright, all kidding aside. Regardless of whether you've got your trailer on dirt, grass, or concrete, put a piece of plywood, or other flat piece of lumber, such as wide 1X's, or 2X's under each tire. This will prevent dry-rot. The cheap boat cover is not a bad idea, but make sure it's well ventilated, or it may do more harm than good. If you can put the trailer out of the way somewhere, where it won't be an eye-sore, that's a bonus.

Curiosity how does wood (pressure treated or ?) under tires prevent dry rot never heard that one before interesting. I had planned on raising the trailer tires off ground. I have a place in yard to leave it so it will be out of way on gravel for now. I am also thinking that water pooling could become a problem without doing something with a frame. Might be good to just keep it clean & waxed not sure now.


Thanks for the responses & being nice LOL I have found in the past some boards can be pretty harsh to newbies questions which I really don't understand since asking questions is what forums are for somewhat.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

Curiosity how does wood (pressure treated or ?) under tires prevent dry rot never heard that one before interesting. I had planned on raising the trailer tires off ground. I have a place in yard to leave it so it will be out of way on gravel for now. I am also thinking that water pooling could become a problem without doing something with a frame. Might be good to just keep it clean & waxed not sure now.


Thanks for the responses & being nice LOL I have found in the past some boards can be pretty harsh to newbies questions which I really don't understand since asking questions is what forums are for somewhat.

Raising the tires off the ground is better. Concrete is notorious for dry-rotting tires when left for prolonged periods of time. Putting a layer of wood between the tires and the concrete just puts a protective barrier in between. Admittedly, I don't know the physics behind it, but it's similar to putting an auto or boat battery on concrete. The concrete sucks it dry, as does the ground. Different mechanisms, same end result. Damage without a protective layer in between. Again, raising the tires off the ground is even better. I'm sure someone else will chime in and explain the science behind what I'm saying.

To answer your other question, pressure treated will probably not rot in one or two seasons.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

Admittedly, I don't know the physics behind it, but it's similar to putting an auto or boat battery on concrete. The concrete sucks it dry, as does the ground. Different mechanisms, same end result. Damage without a protective layer in between. Again, raising the tires off the ground is even better. I'm sure someone else will chime in and explain the science behind what I'm saying.

Apparently that's not really true anymore about the battery:

http://www.thebatteryterminal.com/TechTalk_Batteries_on_Concrete.htm

You seem to be right on about concrete & tires, however. I never knew that. Apparently concrete absorbs moisture & will essentially wick it away from the rubber over time.

Definitely cover the tires & protect them from exposure. I'm replacing a pair of slightly over a year old tires on my trailer because they are dry rotted already from exposure. Learned my lesson the expensive way. You're already planning on jacking it up off the ground, so you have that covered.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

When storing a trailer, why not remove the wheels, deflate to about 20 PSI and store them inside. Sunlight does more damage to tires than sitting on the ground, in mud, on concrete, etc. As for protecting the trailer that is a matter of what you want it to look like in 10 years or so. A coat of auto wax should be all that's necessary to protect it from the elements. If you don't want to remove the wheels, jack up the trailer and support it by the frame so the wheels are off the ground. Each time you walk by give the wheels a spin to keep the bear surfaces coated.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

Apparently that's not really true anymore about the battery:

http://www.thebatteryterminal.com/TechTalk_Batteries_on_Concrete.htm

yep, the battery on concrete thing hasn't been true for 40/50 years or more, but its amazing how long that lives on! It used to be true when battery cases were made out of butyl rubber. (i've personally never even seen a battery that old!)

(I've got a line of 2 tractor batteries, 1 boat battery, 1 pontoon battery, 1 golf cart batt, and 2 pwc batteries at the side wall of my garage for winter storage, all on concrete. i've done that for YEARS.)

 

[NYBo]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

Is the trailer painted, galvanized, or aluminum?

 

[Hiya Bayaya]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

I keep my boat at a marina aswell, in the summer when the boat is the water and the trailer is exposed, I wax it, cover the tires to prevent sun damage and I also spray an anti rust oil in very weld and inside the frame, even though its painted, I do not cover it cause it becomes a hotel for cats, racoons, mice, and so on. In the winter, the boat is on the trailer stored at the marina as well, I do jack it and place wood stands instead if the metal stands under the trailer, it is high enough that the tires do not have too much pressure on them since they will be there in the same spot for six months. However, tires loose air in cold weather and when not used, so if you remove more air, you will loose pressure and the tire seal around the rim will separate and leak all air. Also re spray the trailer again with the rust control oil.

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

Thanks for all the GREAT suggestions Im now thinking of:

1. Elevating the trailer.
2. Covering all tires & every so often cleaning & dressing the tires.
3. Covering the tongue & winch.
4. Clean & wax trailer.

Question on elevating is it better to elevate from frame or axles for a boat trailer?

 

[youmansjason]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

If you decide to cover the entire trailer, you could build a small frame out of PVC pipe that would sit on top of the trailer and keep water from pooling on the cover.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

If the boat is not on the trailer you can support it by the axle. If the boat was left on the trailer, then supporting by the frame close to the rear spring perches is desireable. That keeps the springs from taking a set and again, allows spinning the wheels periodically to prevent the bearing rollers from marking the races. That normally wouldn't happen unless there was any moisture in the hub.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Sorry Dumb Question on Storing Trailer

The only good reason to raise your trailer off the ground is to stop the tires from getting flat spots on the bottoms. I over inflate mine by 10 lbs. the boat is stored at a marina with hundreds of other boats and they are just sitting on the grass. Get some wood to keep the trailer jack from sinking in the ground . cover your boat and leave the trailer alone other then to spray it with WD 40 around the springs and moving parts.If you don't cover it in the summer why cover it in the winter. Now that I own a very large pontoon boat this is the first year that I have ever used a real boat cover.I got it from some outfit called iboats.com.